Love Northern California?

This Creepy Haunted Castle Tour In Northern California Is Not For The Faint Of Heart

With Halloween just around the corner, all sorts of haunted houses are cropping up all over Northern California. However, the one featured here may just be the creepiest one you’ll ever visit. After all, it’s located inside of a real haunted castle. This is as creepy as it gets! Every year, this historic castle gets all dressed up and ready to welcome visitors who are looking for the scare of their life. Just be aware, the Preston Castle Haunt is not for the faint of heart. You’ll come across plenty of scare “actors” when you enter this haunted castle, but you may just come across the real thing as well.

If you're a fan of Northern California's haunted destinations, chances are you're already aware of Ione's Preston Castle. This iconic castle is considered one of the creepiest spots in the state...and it just got a whole lot creepier. Every year around Halloween, the Preston Castle hosts a haunted house that could scare even the bravest of people.

This century-old castle was originally constructed in 1894. Back then, it was a juvenile rehabilitation facility known as the Preston School of Industry. The military-style school operated until 1960 and sat abandoned for a whopping 40 years before being given over to the Preston Castle Foundation for restoration.

The castle hosts tours throughout the year, but come Halloween it turns into one of the most terrifying haunted houses you can imagine. After all, there are few things scarier than wandering the halls of a real haunted castle.

The Preston Castle Haunt is bound to give you a scare. The Haunt runs three weekends in October every single year. It's run completely by volunteers and all proceeds go towards restoring this fantastic piece of history.

Costumed actors are tasked with the job of scaring your pants off as you peruse the castle's dark hallways. There is no age restriction for the haunt, but parents are advised to use discretion when bringing young children. Not only is the castle dark and spooky, but it's all decked out with sets, sounds, props, special effects, and more.

On top of the "fake" scares, it's widely believed that the Preston Castle is home to more than a few real ghosts. Several deaths occurred at the castle throughout the years and the structure has been subject to many paranormal investigations looking to make contact with the ghosts of these sad spirits. Who knows, you may just come across a real spook!

Tickets are $25 for general admission and $35 for a "Fast pass". The Haunt is open every weekend of October starting on October 12. Think you can handle touring this real haunted castle? Purchase your tickets here.